Some of the good people who play with me both live and on recordings include: "Marky" Mark Ansara - Drums/Percussion, Andrew Clarke - Bass/Vocals, David Celia - Guitars/Vocals/More..., Kirtus Godwin - Guitars/Vocals, Nick 'Brownman' Ali - Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Sarah Shafey - Vocals, Nick 'Boxy Box' Luszczek - Cajon/Percussion, Joan Besen - Wurlitzer, Drew Jurecka - Violin, Nick 'Name' Londono - Piano, Chris Banks - Upright Bass
Influences
Film, the arts in general no matter how wacky. Comedy in general but generally dry humor.
-Written: Richard Bach, Paulo Coelho, Ernesto Guevara/Diary (and passionate accomplishments), Khalil Gibran's The Prophet..to name a few
-Music: Whatever makes me feel alive.
A Brief History.
Mike Celia is a singer/songwriter from Mississauga, Ontario. He began his musical journey immediately upon returning from his travels across the better half of Europe in 2004. His experiences traveling with nothing but his backpack and a guitar strapped around his shoulders put him on the life changing journey which led him to quit his job and focus on a career as an artist/performer. His very first performance was held at the prestigious Hugh’s Room in Toronto, opening for his brother David Celia who has been touring Europe and North America for several years now.
For the last few years Mike has managed to captivate audiences from all walks of life with his blend of acoustic guitar, sand-paper vocals and personal lyrics that speak of love, life and the struggles in between. Although it has only been a short time since Mike has taken on the path of music, he has been playing and writing music since the age of fourteen. Inspired by three generations in his household, there was no shortage of music running through his veins while growing up. Mike has always felt a strong connection to music since he was a child, listening to everything from the smooth new age jazz sounds of Pat Metheny to the funky soulful sounds of Stevie Wonder, BB King and Ray Charles. His blend of influences doesn’t even begin to describe his sound and style which has a poppy “singer/songwriter” feel combined with a blend of soulful rhythm and blues.
The completion of his first recorded CD has marked a major stepping stone in becoming recognized as an independent artist. The EP was recorded mostly in his basement with the help of a few fine musicians (including his brother David), his friend and co-producer Nick Londono and a laptop computer with some recording s done at the famous Metalworks studios. The tracks were later mixed by local producer and Juno nominee, John Switzer, who was a great addition in molding the sound that has only begun to catch people’s ears.
Over the years Mike has always been keen on staying grounded and doing his best to keep giving back for all the great fortunes life has offered him. He has organized benefit concerts in the past for charities such as The Make a Wish Foundation (Heroes of Heaven benefit held in December 2005), played at fundraisers for Sick Kids hospital and continues his efforts today using music to create both change and awareness wherever and whenever possible. He is a firm believer that music can bring people together amidst all their diversity, inspire them to become better people and make the changes necessary to make this world a better place.
Mike was also featured on the motion picture soundtrack for the film “Six Reasons Why” (www.sixreasonswhy.com) which has received attention from national media such as Entertainment Tonight and was recently purchased by THINK Film(release date TBA).
On August 17, 2007, Mike began his first national grassroots tour across Canada with bands The Last True Gentlemen and Fourlines. Together, the three acts performed thirteen shows in twenty-one days across five provinces including a live to air performance on CHLY 101.7 in Nanaimo, BC.
Mike was featured twice as a guest on live television for interview and performance on both Rogers Daytime Television and MeTV not to mention a featured artist spotlight on First Local for Rogers Television.
Recently, Mike has been asked to fill the role of Concert Series Director for the Mississauga Independent Film Festival. The festival will run from July 10th to the 13th of 2008 in downtown Mississauga and will feature a live concert bill at each after party during the festival as well as an outdoor band shell performance in front of Mississauga’s City Hall.
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JUST STOPPING BY TO LET U
KNOW THAT I JUST POSTED A BRAND NEW DEMO ON MY PAGE ENTITLED
"INSANITY". IT'S A REALLY GREAT SONG WITH A LOT OF EMOTIONS. YOU SHOULD
CHECK IT OUT AND HIT ME UP SOMETIME! I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT!
AND ALSO DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL MY OTHER SONGS I'VE DEMOED!
;) I know, it's hard work for your music to get over the ocean, but even after a long distance flight via world wide web, it loses nothing of it's touching and inspiring power! Wow! :D So if your music is able to get across the pond - your body should follow as soon as possible, I guess ;)
Happy Monday!!! Thanks for being such a great friend!!! YOU ROCK!!! Have a great week!!!!!
If you are around Friday August 28th I'll be having a big show at Tumbleweed Texas with the Spiffingtons in Houston Texas I really hope to see you there!!! Love ~Susan www.susanhickman.com
I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
HAPPY CANADA DAY! ( a day late) Hope you had fun! It was very sunny here in B'lo most of the day, & I was out doing various errands in my neighborhood, "The Elmwood Village". Got a nice amount of sunshine ( VIT D! SO important!) walking along Elmwood Ave to the food coop here etc. Sat outside on their patio & had lunch chatting with folks I know around here... got some other stuff done, got some ice cream at another cute place in the area, then met a friend for a beer later at another sidewalk cafe type place on "The Elmwood Strip" right near where I live. Was fun. NICE summery day!
Hey I really like that new video you have up with the song that Sarah sings with you on & Dave plays on. Beautiful !
Haven't been on myspace as much lately....more often on Facebook doing activism as well as OF COURSE enjoying & promoting music. My daughter's on there more often, too & of course I'm friends w/ her there & here. She's GREAT! Just came to visit me here for about a week. We had a blast! She's 22 & lives/works/goes to school in Ithaca, NY... a really cool town a few hours away, where actually we all lived for quite a while & where she grew up. Pretty little town w/ waterfalls & lots 'a culture/music too cuz it's a college town. She used to work at the renowned Moosewood Restraunt there... famous 4 its cookbooks...don't know if you've ever seen those around a friend's house or whatnot. This last year she switched to another REALLY nice restraunt & helps them w/ promotion & other stuff as well as waitressing there. So she set up a FB fan page 4 them. She appreciates EACH new fan there. I hope maybe you'll go there & join! Just search Blue Stone on FB & you'll find it.
Hey just stopping by to say hi, if you get some spare time or need webhosting check out www.semoweb.com dont forget to give me a shout also nice page by the way.
I am asking for your support for Toyota's Rock The Space. All you have to do is add this widget to your page. I am number 12 in Country right now!!!
Let me know when you post this widget on your page... I will add your name to my thank you blog after you post. Thank you for your support!!!!! Wrapped Up In Me is now on radio stations across the nation, you can request it now!!!!! Love ~Susan www.susanhickman.com
Hey Thanks for the add... how'd you come across my profile? Did you get to listen to my ukelele song Cuba? It was featured on the MySpace home page and Amsterdam FM... boo yeah! Comment back and I'll definitely write something more personal thereafter.
Stopping by to say Hi! We'd love if you took a minute to checkout our new video for Here I Am! It's up on our myspace page...Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
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